Volunteers step up with plan for Community Center

FALLBROOK – In response to drought restrictions, the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation turned off irrigation to two large planting beds this past summer at the Fallbrook Community Center. Out of concern over keeping a natural environment at the facility, the Friends of the Fallbrook Community Center developed a plan to meet the challenge.

Friends president and fitness instructor Ann Wade approached San Diego County District Park Manager Jake Enriquez on behalf of the group and asked if the county would consider working with volunteers, using innovative permaculture techniques to save the trees and nature at the center. Enriquez said the County Parks and Recreation Department was more than open to the idea.

Wade reached out to two of her yoga students, Diane and Miranda Kennedy who run an agri-tourism demonstration site in Fallbrook known as Finch Frolic Garden. They teach permaculture, which among other things practices low-water-use landscaping.

Wade knew she and the Friends were asking a lot of the Kennedys’ passion by requesting their volunteer services to design and implement the project during the hot summer months. Luckily for the community, the Kennedys said "yes" and in less than a day came up with a design using native plants and succulents that could survive with zero irrigation. This plan would serve as the guide to revamp the gardens in need.

The design utilized simple techniques from permaculture such as basic earthworks, small rain-catching basins, and sheet mulching to retain moisture. The plan was quickly approved and embraced by the County Dept. of Parks & Recreation.

"San Diego County deserves tremendous accolades for its fast response, cooperative spirit, and sensitivity to local needs," said Wade. The county also agreed to partner with the Friends of the Fallbrook Community Center and the Kennedys to pay for supplies needed for the project.

"The project took a village of generosity," said Wade. Members of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, Wade into Fitness students, and Bob Lloyd of PuraVida Aquatics were recruited as volunteers, along with county staff. On a blazing hot August day, volunteers arrived to boldly install the first permaculture garden in the County of San Diego Parks Dept. at the Fallbrook Community Center.

As most of the existing plants would have died without regular watering, many were repurposed as mulch. The ground was extremely hard from years of compacting spray irrigation and rainwater runoff. Roots had formed a solid mat close to the surface in their desperate search for water.

After the plants were repurposed, shallow swales – level-bottomed ditches – were dug perpendicular to the water flow to capture rain runoff. Swales allow water to percolate through the soil rather than run off, an important factor in keeping existing, stately, old California sycamore trees in the beds alive. Small swales above plants and larger swales along hillsides are key to holding rainwater in the soil, encouraging long root growth and preventing erosion.

Swales recharge subterranean waterways, refortify wells and reestablish summer streambeds and, of course, save water and money. One inch of rain, on one acre of land, in one hour, is 27,145 gallons of water; without swales or rain-catching basins, most of that free, fresh water runs off into the ocean.

After digging the catchments and planting holes, Kennedy directed placement of a selection of appropriate drought resistant California natives and succulents which will attract wildlife, birds and butterflies, and bring the garden to life. Some of the branches and leaves from plants that were removed were also placed around the plants to further improve the soil health. The dead branches act as sponges in the ground when it rains, slowly releasing that water when needed by plants. The tree material decomposes to become great food for the worms and soil. Burying wood in this way is called hugelkultur.

A little composted chicken manure was then sprinkled over soil surface around the area to feed microbes. Soil microbes make nutrients available to the plants and aid in retaining moisture.

Sheet mulching was next. Sheet mulching is an inexpensive miracle that can save so much water and improve plant growth in this dry climate. The simple sheet mulching technique – spreading biodegradable cardboard, newspapers, etc. (nothing glossy) around plants – prevents the soil from drying out between rains. It also suppresses weeds, protects against soil erosion during rainfalls, and decomposes to provide nutrients.

While residents get excited by any rain that comes to Fallbrook these days, according to Kennedy, "Rain on bare earth is more compacting than driving a truck over the ground." In the end, very little of that water makes it deep down where it is needed. Yet many homeowners and businesses are unaware of this as they rake away leaves, the very material that allows rain water to slowly percolate into the ground rather that compact it.

The finishing touch was a layer of gorilla hair mulch (shredded redwood bark) over the cardboard. The fluffy material spreads farther than wood chips and is a better value. Its fluffiness prevents it from laying firmly on the soil so it doesn’t decompose as quickly as wood chips, and most importantly it doesn’t wick moisture from the ground like wood chips do on bare soil. And, like the cardboard, twigs and leaves, it provides soil enrichment – even emulating the chemical decomposition of native plant material. It also looks great!

In addition to the planter beds, the county widened a sidewalk making it ADA (disabled) accessible, and also slanted it towards the planting bed to harvest rainwater.

When finished, there were many sore muscles, but the hot and tired volunteers were excited about creating habitat at the Fallbrook Community Center while being water-wise. This type of creative partnership with organizations, volunteers, and businesses is exactly what the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department is moving toward – to not only save water and taxpayer resources, but to encourage community involvement and environmental responsibility.